Mariota could have been a first round pick in the NFL Draft. Instead, he returns to guide one of the nation’s most potent attacks. He totaled 4,380 total yards in 2013 with 31 passing TDs and nine more on the ground. Entering the season, he’s the biggest threat to unseat Jameis Winston as Heisman Trophy winner. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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RB Javorius Allen, Jr., USC

Allen continues coming into his own — last season the 6-1, 215-pound back ran for 774 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also scored 14 touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 252 yards out of the backfield. (Don Ryan/AP)

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RB D.J. Foster, Jr., Arizona State

Even though he was the No. 2 running option behind Marion Grice’s in 2013, the versatile Foster still was named All-Pac-12 honorable-mention. He ran for 501 yards and six scores, but was second on the team with 63 receptions and 653 receiving yards. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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OL Hroniss Grasu, Sr., Oregon

An SN first-team All-Pac-12 performer last season, Grasu anchors the Ducks’ line at center. He was a Rimington finalist last season and makes life easier for Marcus Mariota and the Ducks offense. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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OL Tyler Johnstone, Jr., Oregon

Starting left tackle for all 13 games in 2013 — and honorable mention All-Pac-12 — Johnstone was a big reason the Ducks led the conference in rushing for the eighth consecutive season. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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OL Jamil Douglas, Sr., Arizona State

The Sun Devils tackle enters his senior season on a 27-game starting streak. An All-Pac-12 second-team selection in 2013, he helped the Sun Devils to 191.4 rushing yards per game. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

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OL Andrus Peat, Jr., Stanford

The 6-7 tackle was an All-Pac-12 second-team selection last season and appears to be destined for bigger and better things when he’s finished at Stanford. He was named the team’s most outstanding sophomore. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

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TE Connor Hamlett, Sr., Oregon State

Caught 40 passes for 364 yards and five TDs last season while battling through two knee injuries. The towering 6-7, 265-pound Hamlett provides a huge target for QB Sean Mannion and is a standout blocker as well. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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WR Nelson Agholor, Jr., USC

With Marqise Lee nursing injuries last season, Agholor turned into Cody Kessler’s go-to receiver. He was second on the team with 56 receptions, but first in receiving yards (918) and TD catches (6). Another in a long line of fast deep threats for the Trojans. (David Cleveland/AP)

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WR Ty Montgomery, Sr., Stanford

There’s little Montgomery can’t do with the ball in his hands. He averaged 12.2 yards on 13 rushes (with two scores). He led the team with 61 receptions, 958 yards and 10 TDs. And he averaged 30.3 yards on 36 kickoff returns with two more scores. Yes, he’s a threat anytime he steps on the field. (Tony Avelar/AP)

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DL Leonard Williams, Jr., USC

Simply a monster in the middle. A preseason first-team SN All-Amerian, Williams tallied 74 tackles last season with 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He’s as disruptive as any defensive tackle in the country. (Chris Carlson/AP)

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DL Hau’oli Kikaha, Sr., Washington

He was a beast for the Huskies last season and first-year coach Chris Petersen certainly will enjoy having him rushing the passer. He led the team with 15.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks and was a second-team All-Pac-12 player. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

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DL Danny Shelton, Sr., Washington

Shelton was a force in the trenches. He picked up 59 tackles, but also blocked two kicks. The 332-pounder was an honorable mention member of the All-Pac-12 team in 2013, and a preseason SN All-American entering this season. (Joe Nicholson/Red Box Pictures/Washington)

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DL Henry Anderson, Sr., Stanford

Last season was cut short because of a knee injury, but his presence is noticeable when he’s on the field for the Cardinal. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 player in 2012 and honorable mention last season despite playing just eight games. (Stanford)

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LB Myles Jack, So., UCLA

Most remember Jack as the freshman linebacker-turned-running back running for four TDs against Washington or 120 yards against Arizona. But the conference’s freshman defensive player of the year is a playmaker on defense and expect him to make more of a name for himself on this side of the ball in 2014. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

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LB Hayes Pullard, Sr., USC

Led the Trojans with 94 tackles, while adding 5.5 tackles for loss, an interception and six pass break-ups. A veteran with 39 career starts, Pullard was a second-team All-Pac-12 performer a year ago. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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LB Shaq Thompson, Jr., Washington

Second on the team in 2013 with 78 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss and an interception returned 80 yards for a score. An honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2013, Thompson is on the Bednarik preseason watch list. (Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures/Washington)

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DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Sr., Oregon

A preseason SN All-American, Ekpre-Olomu tallied 84 tackles last season, 5.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions. He was a semifinalist for the Thorpe and Bednarik awards in 2013. (David Zalubowski/AP)

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DB Marcus Peters, Jr., Washington

A ballhawk in the secondary, Peters intercepted five passes in 2013, defended 14 more and had nine pass breakups — all team highs. Good size (6-0, 200), and a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2013. (David Becker/AP)

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DB Jordan Richards, Sr., Stanford

The strong safety garnered plenty of postseason recognition in 2013. He started all 14 games, had 69 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions, including one returned for a TD. (Alex Gallardo/AP)

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DB Alex Carter, Sr., Stanford

A key contributor to one of the nation’s most physical defenses, Carter contributed 59 tackles, an interception and a team-best eight passes defensed. A big corner at 6-0, 200 pounds, Carter was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2013. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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K Zane Gonzalez, So., Arizona State

Stepped right in as a freshman and was named first-team All-Pac-12. He connected on 25 of 30 field goal attempts and averaged 9.9 points per game. At one point, he made 18 consecutive kicks. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

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P Tom Hackett, Jr., Utah

A former walk-on, Hackett has placed 42 percent of his career punts inside the 20 with just seven touchbacks in two seasons. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 in 2013, averaging 43.4 yards per kick with 27 punts inside the 20 and 19 punts of at least 50 yards. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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OFFENSIVE POY: Marcus Mariota, Jr., Oregon

He threw for 3,665 yards last season — second-most in Oregon history — and was responsible for 240 points. He can also run. Look for more of the same from Mariota in Year 2 of Mark Helfrich’s tenure as head coach. The Ducks averaged 565.0 yards per game last season. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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DEFENSIVE POY: Leonard Williams, Jr., USC

He’s been piling up accolades since arriving in L.A., and 2014 shouldn’t be any different. He enters the season as the nation’s top interior defensive lineman and will make Steve Sarkisian’s job easier from Day 1. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)